Roland Terry was a leading force behind the rise of modernist buildings in the postwar period and through the middle of the 20th century. Incorporating natural materials, open spaces, interior and landscape design with architecture, Terry's designs constitute some of the best examples of Northwest Modernist architecture. From 1952 until 1960, Terry partnered with architect Philip Moore and together they completed a large number of residential and commercial projects. In his design of the Japan Air Lines ticket office in downtown Seattle, Terry emphasized the minimalism found in Japanese architecture. Terry's use of the minimalist style in the interior of the building predates the emergence of the aesthetic in the United States.